There will be a public hearing held by the State Senate Health and Social Services to discuss Senate Bill (SB) 72 again, a bill that would expand the current anti-discrimination statutes to include protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Similar provisions already prohibit discrimination based upon race, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, sex, marital status, changes in marital status, pregnancy or parenthood. This bill may sound familiar, it is an identical bill that was heard in this same committee a few years ago but never received a vote.

Step 3) Testify during the hearing and your testimony can be as easy as stating your name and your support for this bill.

DETAILS ABOUT MONDAY'S HEARING

Who: Alaska State Senate

What: SB 72 an act related to discrimination and protections for the LGBTQ community.

When: MONDAY, APRIL 1, 1:30 pm

Where: Butrovich 205 (if attending in person), via phone at (844) 586-9085 or (907) 586-9085 then ask for the State Senate Health & Social Services Committee meeting or at your local Legislative Information Office (LIO) - for all locations visit: http://akleg.gov/lios.php

What is needed: Letters of Support from organizations, businesses, congregations, etc. (on letterhead if possible), testifiers for public testimony the day of the hearing in person in Juneau or at your local LIO (see link above), AND send an email in support of the bill.

All correspondence is being collected by Berta's office and will get distributed to the committee. Please email any or all correspondence to Senator.Berta.Gardner@akleg.gov. If you have any questions (and to offer thanks!), please call Sen. Gardner's office at (907) 465-4930. Megan Holland is her staffer working on this bill.

Key Messages:

-Offer your opinion of the bill and why you support it.

-Share your story, if you have been exposed or discriminated against because you were LGBTQ.

-Talk about shared values and Alaska values and how discrimination does not align with those values.

-Updating the law will ensure that all people in our state are judged on their job performance and qualifications. Nothing more, nothing less. No one should have to live in fear of being legally fired for reasons that have nothing to do with job performance.

-Take a deep breathe if you are nervous, it is easy, you will have supporters all around you.